Introduction to Hacking PostgreSQL

An introduction to how to modify the PostgreSQL source code. This tutorial is intended for programmers with some knowledge of C, who would like to understand how PostgreSQL works and how to modify it.

This tutorial will introduce programmers to the basic knowledge required to modify PostgreSQL. The first 90 minutes will discuss fundamental properties of the PostgreSQL architecture, common coding conventions and useful development tools for PostgreSQL work. The second 90 minutes will walk the audience through an example patch for PostgreSQL.

This talk will take the same basic approach that was taken for the "Introduction to Hacking PostgreSQL" talk that was given at the 2006 PostgreSQL Anniversary Summit, but many of the details will vary: I'll present a completely different example patch, and adjust the introductory material accordingly. The goal is to make this talk interesting for those who saw the previous tutorial, while still remaining accessible to newcomers.